Distance measuring device



y 1945. E. A. J. TUNNICLIFFE 2,376,836

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 I 4J 'w7" I I Q (fa/jaw y 1945- E. A. J. TUNNICLIFFE 2,376,836

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE May 22,1945.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I w 5 L a a g== /2 Lu-J 22' Patented May 22, 1945 DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE Edward Albert James Tunniclifie, Thorpe Bay, England Application February 11, 1942, Serial No. 430,468

' In Great Britain August 31, 1940 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for measuring distances and particularly for measuring the distance between the target of an X-ray tube and the film.

As i well known, this distanc is one of the variables which requires frequent and precise adjustment in X-ray work and heretofore measurement of such distance has been effected by means of a rule or some equivalent device.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved device by means of which the setting or measurement of the distance referredto can be ascertained and adjusted easily and accurately.

The present invention utilizes an optical system which will project two beams of light and adjustable means is provided by which the angle between the two beams can be adjusted; hence referring to the base line between the points of,

on to the film support (or some other part in a fixed relation to that support) so as to produce a determined relationship between the projection of the two beams,the" distance between the target and the film will be a function of the angle of adjustment. It followsthat by suitably calibrating the mechanism for efiecting the adjustment of the angle between the 'two beams, the linear distance can be read directly. Usually the optical system would include two mirrors or totally reflecting prisms and'the adjusting means would operate to vary the relative angle between the two mirrors or prisms.

In this particular case the base line of the system would be afiorded between the two mirrors andthese two mirrors would be arranged in the known relationship with respectte the target of the Xqay'tuhe'. i

In-the' casein which mirrors or totally reflectin prisms are employed, the relative angle between the two mirrors can be adjusted either by adjusting both mirrors simultaneously or by adjusting one mirror and leaving the other fixed.

' The adjustment may be effected by screw mechanism; for examplewhen both mirrors are to be adjusted simultaneously a rod having rightand left handed screw threaded parts can be employed the rod having a dial calibrated in terms of distance.

To ensure concentrated or sharply defined beams, the light can be projected through lens systems.

In most cases the light source would be provided by an electric lamp light rays from which pass to the mirrors for reflection by them.

In most cases also each beam of light will pass through a screen, the two screens having say rectilinear slits atright angles so that where the two beams intersect a cross projection image will be formed.

I The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1-.4 illustrate one form of construction, and Figure 5 is a modified form of construction, Figure 1 being an end elevation showing a device according to this invention applied to an X-ray tube, Figures 2 and 3 respectively side elevation and plan of the device itself to a larger scale, and Figure 4 a section on the line IV--IV Figure 3 while Figure 5 is a front elevation. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view.

Referring flrstly to Figures 1-4 and particularly Figures 2, 3 and 4, the device comprises a frame I in which are supported spindles 2, 3 carrying optical reflectors 4, 5, these reflectors being in the path ofa beam of light issuing from a lamp 6 in a lamp housing I on the frame I, the beam issuing through narrow slots in discs 8, 9 at the two ends of the housing.

' The spindles '2, 3 have arms Ill, H clamped to them and the outer free ends of these arms are provided with pins Hi, I l engaged in a peripheral groove l2 in an adjusting member [3 which is screwed at. M and engaged in a screwed hole in a lug [5 on the frame I; the actuating member 13 is extended at [B to receive an operating handle l6.

It will be apparent that the beam of light passing from the two ends of the housing I to the two reflectors 4, 5, will be deflected in accordance with optical laws and, as the reflectors are directed towards one another, the reflected beams will intersect at s0me point depending on the angle at which the reflectors are set. Hence, by rotating the operating member I 3, the screw thread M causes it to move axially in or out of the lug l5 and in this way the arms I0, I I and the. reflectors 4, 5 to which they are connected through the spindles 2, 3, will be caused to rock to vary the angular relationship of the reflectors 4, 5 and consequently the point, at which the reflected beams will intersect. In other words, regarding-the" line A--B joining the axes of the two spindles 2,. 3, as a datum, the distance measured from this datum to the point of intersection of member .I 3.

If new the device befitted to an Xeray equine I I ment sov that the datum line referred to is. in

' some fixed relationship to the target of the tube and the .beams are rcflectedon tothe film sup I y port (or some part in a fixed relationship tothat support), then by operating the actuatingv memher, l3 so that the beamsiintersect: (or have, some v d v other predeterminedrelationship) on the support, the position of the actuating member will indicate the distance between thetarget of the X-ray tube and thefllm holder. I This will be indicated at A B isat the same :level :as the tar-v get of the X-ray tube T; the central rayfrom clear from Figure, 6 in which the datum line. I

which: is denoted at; 0, D and is iocussed on the v film holder at a'point E; in this figure the rejflected beams of light are and intersect at K. a

, 'It will beapparent that (for any given dis- I v vtance between the target of the'X-ray :tube and,

the film holder) there is'a given angular setting of the reflectors .4; which: will; cause the point q v of.intersection K of the reflected beams F- -G,"

, to fall on, the holder and hence the setting of the reflectors (or more preciselyoiits operat- I ing member) is a measure ofthe distance KZ from the datum line A, B to the holder" and hence of thedistanceCZErv In Figures 1-4 the extension iliof'the operating member 13 is: provided-with gear teethv l1 indicatedat r -G, H, J. i

in mesh with a rack 11" on a plate 11 which is I v slidableon the frame '20, the plate having on it I a scale S co-operating with apointer l so that when the operating member 13 is. operated to a 1 adjust the angular setting of the reflectors 4, 5

the scale indicates directly the distance C, E.

It is necessary for the device to be located to one side of the X-ray tube and while (as is seen in Figure 6) it will in some cases be suflicient for the reflected rays FG, HJ to be reflected in a plane parallel with the central ray from the X-ray tube, it would in other cases be preferable to arrange the reflected beams to intersect at the actual zone E at which the central ray C, D is focussed on the film support and this will necessitate the reflected beams being in a plane at an angle to the central ray of the X-ray tube. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 1 where the line EZ represents the plane containing the reflected beams FG, HJ from the reflectors. As will be seen from this figure the plane EZ makes an angle a with the central ray CD of the tube and obviously this angle will vary with the distance CE between the film support and the target of the tube. In order to compensate for this change of angle with change of the distance CE, the following arrangement is provided; the frame I (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) instead of being secured direct to the X-ray tube T is pivotally mounted on pivot pins I8, I9, carried by arms 20, 2! extending from a main supporting bracket 22 itself secured to the X-ray tube (or its support) so that the frame l is free to rock on the pivots. ber I3 reacts against the bracket 22 as seen in Figure 4 When new the operating member I3 is rotated, not only are the arms In, H rocked but the end of it is caused to be projected more or less beyond the lug E5 in which the operating The end of the screwed operating mornmounted on said main support, two optical re fleeting devices mounted on said second support for relative angular adjustment-about axes which ;member is: screwed and by reaction with the bracket 22 theiframe is caused: to rock about its pivots l8, l9. As will be seen from Figure 1 this @rocking movement causes the reflectorsd, 5 to be rocked together so' that the'angle: a of the plane EZ containing the reflected beams is correspondingly changed in such manner that the 'point'K'of intersection (for any giv'en setting) I will fall on the'focussing point of the central ray of the 'X-ray tube. I

'A modified construction adapted for cheaper production costs than the construction shown in I Figures l-i is shown'in' Figure. 5; in this figure,

the reflectors 4,5 are mounted at the outer ends which have abutments 28, 28' against which the spring arms '24, 25ers held by their resiliency. The'block 26 is provided with an operating screw ail'which bearsagainstthe yoke piece 2! so that by. operating the screw the arms 24, 25 are caused to be flexed and in this way to change the vangle I of the reflectors, the whole operating in the man- 'ner describ'ed'withreference to Figures 1-4 to change the'point of intersection K of the beams reflected by the mirrors from the lamp 8 in'the v v housing; I. :Ihe abutmentsZB, :29 are preferably as shown in the form of set screwssoz thatthe setting of the arms 24, can be i .getl'ierandindividually. v I tWhatI'ciaimis: i

1. In X- ray apparatus, a carrier for an I X-ray tube, a carricrfor a surface sensitivev to X-raya'and'a device formeasuring: the distance I v I 1 between the two carrierathe said device'co'm-z prising a main support, a second support pivotally are transverse to theaxis' of the'pivotal mounting of the second support on the main support, a nut member on the second support, a screw threaded adjusting member engaging said nut member and abutting the main support, connections between the threaded member and the two reflecting devices such that longitudinal movement of the threaded member is transmitted to the reflecting devices, and a source of light for illuminating the reflecting devices, the whole arrangement being such that rotation of the adjusting member effects relative angular adjustment of the two devices on the second support and also angular adjustment of the second support on the main support so that the beams of light projected by the two reflecting devices intersect at a variable distance from the target of the tube and always along the same straight line representative of the central ray emanating from the tube towards the carrier for the sensitive means.

2. In an X-ray apparatus for measuring the distance from the tube to the target, a main support for unitary mounting with the X-ray tube, a second support, pivot means for mounting the said second support on said main support, two optical reflecting devices mounted on said secand support for relative angular adjustment about axes transverse to the axis of said pivot means, a screw-threaded element on the second support fixed with respect to the said Divot means, a screw-threaded adjusting member engaging said element and abutting the main support, connections between the screw-threaded member and the two reflecting devices whereby adjusted M longitudinal movement of the screw-threaded member angularly adjusts the reflecting devices and the source of light for projecting a beam of light on the reflecting devices, the whole arrangement being such that rotation of the screwthreaded adjusting member effects a relative angular adjustment of the two devices on the second support and also angular adjustment of the second support on the main support, so that the beams of light projected by the two reflecting devices intersect at a variable distance from the target of the tube and always along the same straight line representative of the central ray emanating from the tube towards the target, and scale means connected to the threaded adjusting member for indicating the distance from X-ray tube to the target.

3. In distance measuring apparatus, a main support, a second support, pivot means mounting said second support on said main support, two optical reflecting devices mounted on said second support for relative angular adjustment about axes transverse to the axis of said pivot means, an adjusting member, means mounting said adjusting member for longitudinal adjustment on the second support, said adjusting member and last-mentioned means being in fixed relation relative to the said pivot means and in coacting engagement with the main support, connections between said adjusting member and the two reflecting devices, whereby longitudinal movement of the adjusting member angularly adjusts the reflecting device, and a source of light for projecting a beam of light on the reflecting device, the whole arrangement being such that rotation of the adjusting member effects relative angular adjustment of the reflecting device on the second support and also angu lar adjustment of the second support on said pivot means relatively to the main support so that beams of light projected by the two reflecting devices intersect at a variable distance along a straight line common thereto, and scale" means connected to the threaded adjusting member for indicating the distance measured.

EDWARD ALBERT JAMES TUNNICLIFFE. 

